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Philip R. Smith School

Dream. Achieve. Inspire.

Weekly Update September 12, 2025

Posted Date: 9/12/25 (4:30 PM)

Philip R. Smith Elementary School-Weekly News

September 12, 2025

The U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School seal, featuring an eagle and stars.

PRS Open House

Join us on Wednesday, September 17th from 6-7:30 p.m. for our annual open house. This is a opportunity for students to show off their school (classrooms, specials, support classes), for parents to meet various teachers, and for parents to learn about some of the things students will learn this year.

You can drop in any time betweeen 6 p.m and 7:30 p.m. Overflow parking will be on the front lawn-you might consider carpooling with friends. We will have doors open at the main entrance, south entrance and front kindergarten entrance.

Similar to the last two years, a document with links will be shared with families and posted on our school website. This will include slides with information about grade levels, specials, nurse, main office, etc. and frequently asked questions. This way families can access this information all year vs. just one evening.

Hope to see everyone on Wednesday evening.

PTO News

Cultural Celebration Survey

One of our school-based committees developed this family survey last year and we pushed it out to get familily responses. We then shared the responses with staff so they could utilize the information. Now that we have started a new school year, we'd like to give our new and returning families an opportunity to provide input through this survey. If you didn't complete the survey last year and you would like to, here's the link. We will share responses with staff in a couple of weeks.

Parent Square

We are hoping to have a table at Open House to help parents set up their Parent Square accounts if they need support.

See two Parent Square resources below...

Also, we are kindly asking our parents who receive videos and pictures from PRS through Parent Square, to not post those photos or videos on your personal social media accounts.

Instrumental Music Open House

A special open house just for instrumental music students. Learn more here.

New Feedback Form

PRS Feedback Form A new method for our families and staff to provide feedback throughout the school year!

CHET Contest

Dear Connecticut School Superintendent,
The end of the school year is almost here, and we have some exciting news – the CHET Dream Big! Competition will return on August 18, 2025 and run through November 5, 2025! This Competition is brought to you by the Connecticut State Treasurer’s Office as Trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET). Dream Big! is open to all Connecticut students in grades K-12.
This is where you come in - we need your help to make sure your students and families know about this opportunity to win contributions to their CHET 529 college savings plans!
This year we will be awarding $350,000 in CHET 529 College Savings Plan – Direct Plan (“CHET 529 Direct Plan”) account contributions to over 250 students in grades K-12. Younger students will be asked to answer a question focusing on their future plans or a time they were inspired to do good, and older students will be asked about an experience or person that has impacted them and how that will influence their future goals.
This year we will be awarding the following in CHET 529 account contributions:
  • Three prizes of $20,000
  • 24 prizes of $5,000
  • 240 prizes of $500
A school in your district could win a prize too! Each school that is represented by at least one student’s entry will be eligible for a random drawing for a technology prize worth $5,000 (a total of 10 schools will win a technology prize).
We will be following up in late summer with more details, including Official Rules and information on how to enter.
I look forward to working with you to encourage students in your district to Dream Big!
Thank you for your support!
Amanda Savio
The CHET Dream Big! Competition Team

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void outside CT and where prohibited. Open to legal U.S. residents residing in Connecticut who are at least 18 years old and are the parents or legal guardians of a student or students currently enrolled in a Connecticut school, grades K-12 as of 8/18/25. Begins 9:00 a.m. ET on 8/18/25; ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 11/05/25. Prizes will be a contribution to an eligible CHET 529 Direct Plan Account established for the benefit of the child whose parent or legal guardian submitted a winning entry for the child. CHET Advisor 529 Accounts are not permitted for receipt of a prize. For Official Rules and eligibility, visit chetdreambig.com. Sponsor: Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917.

Important Dates

September 17 6:00-7:30 PRS Open House
September 23 No School Rosh Hashanah
September 30 7:00 PTO Meeting

Helpful Links